Paraffin knife



May 2, 1950 c. c. WEsTz-:RMAN ET AL 2,506,530

PARAF'FIN KNIFE Filed OGL. l, 1946 Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv PARAFFIN KNIFE Carroll C. Westerman and Granval W. Westerman, Artesia, N. Mex.

Application October 1, 1946, Serial No. 700,504

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a knife or scraper designed for use in connection with oil wells, the primary object of the invention being to provide means `within the tubing of an oil well, which will move longitudinally of the tubing during the flowing operation, thereby removingr paraflin from the wall of the tubing, maintaining the tubing free of foreign matter to enable oil to flow freely.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily and easily installed without the necessity of making alterations in the flow construction or tubing.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a well tubing section, illustrating paraffin removing devices constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 indicates a section of well tubing, illustrating a device constructed in accordance with the invention, as positioned therein.

As shown, the device comprises a disc 6 which is of a diameter to move within the tubing, in proximity to the inner surface of the tubing to scrape formations of parain which ordinarily collect on the inner surface of the well tubing, from the tubing.

Connected with the disc 6 is a coiled spring 'I which is of the expansible type, the spring having its upper end connected with the disc` 8, to which the rod 9 is connected at a point centrally of the disc 8.

Fins I0 rise from the disc 8, and are placed equal distances apart, the outer edges of the iins 'being inclined inwardly towards the upper end of the rod 8, providing guides for the device as it moves within the well tubing.

Operating in conjunction with the discs 6 and 8 is a nipple II, which has its open end disposed downwardly, the upper end being closed by the dome I2. Extending transversely through the nipple II is a pin I3 to which the upper end of the coiled spring I4 is connected, the lower end of the coiled spring normally extending below the lower end of the nipple where it is connected with the disc I5. This disc I5, together with the spring I4, acts as a cushioning means for the member II during the operation oi' the device, and is held stationary at the top of the tubing 5.

The rod I8 is secured to the dome I2 and extends through the spring I4 and disc I5 which is slidable on and secured on the rod by the nut I 'I.

The spring 'I also provides a cushioning means for the knife or disc 6, to cushion the movement n of the device as it strikes the bottom of the well during each flow of the well.

The disc li is held in position by the rod I8 which is shown as extending from the rod 9, the lcwer end ci' the rod I8 being extended through the disc 6 which is slidable on the rod and secured on the rod by the nut I9.

In the operation of the device it will be seen that with iiow, the devices will be moved longitudinally of the tubing to accomplish the purpose of the invention.

Having described the invention, claimed is:

1. The combination with the tubing of an oil well, of a paraffin removing device comprising a body portion including a rod, a disc secured to the lower end of the rod, guide iins secured to the rod and disc, the guide ns extending longitudinally of the rod, a coiled spring secured to the disc and extending downwardly therefrom, a scraping disc secured to the opposite what is end of the spring and adapted to scrape ma- Y terial from the wall of the tubing in which the scraper moves, said discs being perpendicular to the axis of the rod, said body portion being movable longitudinally of the tubing with the flow of oil thrugh the tubing.

2. The combination with the tubing of an oil well, of a paraffin removing device comprising a body portion embodying a, rod, a disc secured to the lower end of the rod, a second rod removably connected with the first-mentioned rod below the disc, a coiled spring secured to the disc and surrounding the second-mentioned rod, a scraping disc slidably mounted on the lower end of the second-mentioned rod and being connected with one end of the spring to move therewith, guiding iins formed on the first-mentioned rod and having their lower ends connected with REFERENCES CITED The following 'references are of record in the l0? le of this patent:

4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Grin July 14, 1931 Blum Jan. 22, 1935 Rallet et a1 Oct. 27, 1936 Y Luccous Dec. 26, 1939 Otis June 11, 1940 Wylie Sept. 17, 1940 Festerwan etgal -rAugg; 10, 1943 

